[ Charlotte ]The party ended on the expected note as I wanted. The next day, it was the main headline of the news channels and papers. The social media was flooding with the pictures taken during the event and it made me feel contended except the one particular picture, mine and Sebestian’s during the dance. It had the title I dreaded the most.“Old flames rekindled between the ex-couples?”Fuck!A knock on the door of my office forced me to tear my eyes from the title of an online magazine. Jonathan was leaning on the door frame with different daily newspapers.“Not you, Jon.” I groaned in frustration and took off my glasses.He jogged inside and dumped the papers in the shredder. I watched the papers in long shreds falling in the bin.“It was inevitable, Lottie. Please don’t bother yourself with such shits, they’re going to be a part of your life from now on unless you wear a stone on your finger and change your last name for the third time.” He said grabbing a chocolate from my bo
[ Charlotte ]“Calm down, Lottie. I am here and I have dealt with douchebags like him. He is only trying to crawl under your skin.” Jonathan said as we were waiting for Sebestian’s arrival in the guest room.“I don’t want to face him yet, Jon. He is planning something, I can feel.” I shook my head and at the same time, the doors opened. Tara had my guest with her.His charismatic personality reflected in his demeanour. He wore his custom leather shoes and grey suit. I must admit that long hairs tied on the top of his head gave him a sexier look. His eyes hardened when he looked at Jonathan who was sitting beside me. He was the COO of my company which gave him every right to be present during business meetings.“Good afternoon, Mr. Blackwood. May I know the reason of this unexpected visit from you?” I stood up and forwarded my hand for a shake. Sebestian’s eyes tore from Jonathan and zeroed on my stretched hand.“I want to call truce.” He said taking my hand into his large palm. I felt
[ Sebestian ]“Are you serious, Sebestian Blackwood? You decided to yield against our ethics and crawled to her feet. Great! Just great.” Victorine willowed but I found her reaction exaggerating.“I stopped meddling in your personal life since you took over my position, Son but I agree with her.” My father spoke very calmly but I could feel his resentment behind his stoic face.“I didn’t do anything which may effect our image.” I replied to them.“Oh please, Sebestian. You were the one who opposed my idea to negotiate with Jonathan but since you saw your ex-wife, your demeanour has changed. What’s going on with you?” She raised her eye at me.“Whatever I do is none of your business, Victorine. I know what is good for my company.” I said icily.“It is my business, Sebestian and I also have the right to know what you do for the profit of our company.” She said emphasizing on the second last word.“Sebestian, you have to take us in your confidence if you want us to believe you.” My fathe
[ Sebestian ]I couldn’t take my mind off from Ace, the mysterious boy who forced me to join the past dots. I had a strong intuition that we were related to each other but I had no proof nor I could ask a stranger boy about his parents. He came from an influential family, there’s no doubt.“Uncle Seb, can you read me this story?” Lea’s sweet voice jerked me out of my conflicting thoughts. I looked down at the girl who looked sleepy in my arms.“Sure, princess.” I picked her and led her to my room with her favourite story book.I laid her down on my bed and covered her properly with the blanket. Laying beside her, I opened the book to read her all time favourite story, “The Beauty and The Beast”.“I want to listen the Sleeping Beauty.” She said but her heavy eyes were indicating that she might pass out sooner.“Leah, can I ask you a question about your friend Ace?” I asked her in a hope she could give me a lead.She nodded her head.“Did you ever meet her parents? I mean you both are f
[ Charlotte ]My sunshine, a smile crept on my lips as I adored his sleeping figure. He was snoring softly just like his father unaware of the hardships I faced everyday just to protect him and keep him out of the possible danger he might face as I decided to return to the city which gave me everything and left me with nothing except Ace.“Hey, sleepy head, wake up. It’s time for breakfast and you have to go school.” I ruffled his head gently to wake him up and he slowly stirred in his sleep before opening his eyes.“Good morning, Mom.” He smiled at me which made me love him more. He sat up rubbing his eyes.“Good morning, my prince.” I kissed his hairs and helped him to get off his bed. He never threw any tantrums to get ready for school. In fact, he was always eager to go to school to learn new things everyday.“Mom, tomorrow is parent-teacher meeting.” He looked up at me.“I remember baby. How can I forget such an important thing about my baby boy.” I ruffled his hairs.“You missed
[ Charlotte ]“Ma’am, please come this way.” A young man said to me in a very polite manner and it didn’t take me another second to recognize him. It was Jimmy.“Mr. Jimmy Lawrence, I must say you’re one of his loyal pets who doesn’t hesitate to blackmail a woman.” I taunted him.His face turned red in embarrassment, “I am sorry, Ma’am. My boss would have fired me if I didn’t obey his orders.” He apologized.I smiled dryly, “I can understand. Nothing satisfies him more than dictating the other people’s life.” I said and moved in the direction of Sebestian’s office. I read his name written in golden words, glorifying the name that ruled the city. I shook my head, it didn’t terrify me anymore.“Ma’am, Mr. Blackwood is waiting for you in the guest room.” Jimmy’s voice interrupted me.I turned to glance at him in confusion.“Why not in his office?” I asked him.“Sorry, Ma’am, I can’t tell you much. Please come with me.” He said cluelessly but by looking at his anxious face, I could tell t
[ Sebestian ] Her supple lips, smeared in raspberry flavoured lipstick moulded perfectly with mine. She tasted like the old times. I didn’t realise until I kissed her again that I missed her terribly. After the reluctance of few moments, she begun to reciprocate, her fists clutched my crisp shirt while my hands explored her body. She was like a drug to me.I bite on her plumpness and entered my tongue, our tongues played the hide and seek. She was going to hate me for this but I would repeat it million times as I could never get enough of her sweet nectar.She gently pushed me when her lungs needed air. Her cheeks were red but there was regret in those black orbs which once had immense love for me.“What the hell was this?” Her nose flared.“I kissed you, Miss Montgomery and it was mutual. You know this.” I smirked wiping the stain of her lip colour from my lips. She looked away to hide her embarrassed face.“Stay away from my son, Mr. Blackwood. You want to go to court, you may try.
[ Charlotte ]“He knows about Ace.” I sighed and rubbed my temples to ease the headache but it didn’t help. In fact, it’s worsening.“What? What do you mean he know?” Jonathan spilled the drink he was sipping and stared at me with shock and confusion written all over his face.“I don’t know how but he met Ace and now he is breathing on my neck. He seems prepared to sue me in the court. I can’t lose my son, Jon. Not to him and his mistress.” I looked at him with teary eyes. He is the only person who had seen me in my rainy days.He put down his glass and held my shoulders, “He won’t be able to come near Ace. I will make sure of it, Lottie. You have to stay calm and use your brain. You were married to him for three years and no one knows him better than you. Press your memories, I am sure, you’ll find his weakness. This is the only way that we can opt to keep him in our clutches.” He said. His advices sometimes sounded atrocious but they always worked.“I don’t want my son to become a p
[ Arienna Blackwood ]"Don't run, Aria. Mom is tired and she wants a hug from her princess." I shouted and heard soft giggles of my five years old daughter from behind the curtains.A smile stretched over my lips as I spotted her shadow. She was the source of light in my life whom I found during my trip to Mexico and instantly fell in love with two years old orphan who was abandoned by her birth mother at an orphanage.It took me an year of struggle and legal procedure to adopt her officially and bring her to home."Mom got you." I grabbed her and tickled her.The little girl wriggled to get out of my hold while laughing. I showered her pretty face with kisses."Stop Mama, it's ticklish." She pushed my face away."No, Mama wants a cuddle with Aria." I pulled her on my lap and hugged her."I am angry on you, Mama. You promised to come back early but you're two days late." She pouted with grumpy face."I am sorry baby but you know my work. I am the CEO and it's mandatory for me to be
[ Arianna Blackwood ]"Anna.."Rafael's low voice rang into my ears. So, this man can also feel remorse!"Come and sit, Rafael. We need to talk on certain matters." I said in a flat tone."Please, let's just sit together and-" He tried to say something but I showed him my palm."I do not want to spend even a single moment with you, Mr. Martinez but we must clear a few things before we part our ways." I finally shot my blank eyes at him.He looked vulnerable, his eyes were puffy and red. By judging his appearance, I bet he hadn't been resting properly."Please, Arienna. Don't do this. It was my fault. Our baby died because of me." He said in a croaked tone, I observed his adam's apple bobbing up and down."It was my baby. It doesn't give you any right to call it yours just because you fucked me for once." I snapped at him, the bottled up anger and resentment was threatening to spill.He lowered his gaze and shook his head, "Alright, I won't. Please, calm down. We can talk once you get
[ Arianna Blackwood ]It's been four days.Four long days since I lost my baby, the last hope of my future. I am stoll trying to accept this news but my heart denies my loss. My lower body aches every time I move or shift, a constant reminder of my cruel fate.I don't deserve happiness since my birth. Why does God punish me? What did I do to deserve only grief and misfortunes in my life?"Ari, my princess." Dad's soft voice forced me to pull out of my mourning solicitude."Dad."I barely whispered as mu throat was constricted due to crying for hours since doctor broke the devastating news to me. I predicted my loss when I felt the pain during my argument with Rafael but a part of me hoped for a miracle to happen."I have brought your dinner. It's your mother's home cooked recipe, one of your favourite dishes and healthy." He placed a tiffin box on the table.He was trying to cheer me up. That's all my family could do, they stood like a pillar around me. They're my everything and I'd f
[ Rafael ]I have been waiting for two long hours, still no words from the hospital staff how Arienna is doing after miscarriage. Yes, the doctors declared the baby dead as soon as they admitted her and they had to perform emergency surgery to remove the dead fetus.Arienna lost too much blood which caused her to lose her consciousness for a long time.Miscarriage, a simple word with eleven syllables but it has so much pain and shattered hopes within it's depth. It has the power to bring even the bravest heart at the bottom.I lost my child, my first child despite several warnings from the doctors. Yet I let her go through the trauma, not once, not twice but everytime we talked.She's right, I killed our baby. I don't deserve it call it mine because Arienna tried her best to be there for our baby but I was busy hitting my head on the wall of past. I became so mad that her pain got unnoticed by me."How dare you?"A voice roared and I got punched on my face, it was a hard blow. I stumb
[ Arianna Blackwood ]After my conversation with my mother, I found myself drowning into more conflict. I couldn't live with Rafael as long as he keeps harboring hatred and vendetta against my family, on the other hand, I was drawn to my husband.I was screwed and back to square one."Anna, you're back?"Rafael's surprised voice reached into my ears and I turned around to find him standing at the threshold of main door."Yes, I guess. Sorry, if you're disappointed to see me here. Well, I won't take long. I came here to talk on certain matters." I said in a clipped tone.His features softened. He rushed towards me and grabbed my shoulders, "I don't want you to leave, not now not never, Anna. I can't imagine my life without you, my love. Please, forgive me. I am ready to talk to your parents if it makes you feel better." He sounded vulnerable and desperate.I detatched myself from him and looked away."Let's talk, Rafael. I don't want us to live in continuous uncertainties." I said in a
[ Arienna Blackwood ]"Mom, I want a divorce with Rafael. I don't think this marriage would work. I am sorry I didn't think wisely when I decided to marry him." I said to my mother who was calmly sipping her coffee.She didn't look affected by my decision, instead, she poured some in my cup."Please, say something, Mom. Your opinion matters to me the most." I gave her a pleading look."You want my honest opinion?" She finally looked up at me while placing her cup down on the table.I nodded my head in impatience.She pinched the bridge of her nose, "Are you afraid of the boy you once knew, who cared for you a lot or the man who is blind in vengeance. It's your take?" She asked me and I was left shocked."How..how..do you know?" I couldn't find proper words to ask her how did she know everything about Noah."I am your mother, Ari. Of course, I know everything about my children. I wouldn't have let you marry him if I didn't know about your groom. I ran a background check on Rafael and i
[ Rafael Martinez ]"You didn't have to take a stand for me. I can fight my own battles and it wasn't the first time my grandmother bullied me. She has always been like this. I thought you'd of all people would understand her nature." Arienna said curtly over the dining table.I gave her a blank look. She was only playing with the food on the plate."I had to show her that she can't boss around in my house and demean my wife." I replied. I heard suck a deep breath. "I am sorry for the morning. I shouldn't have said those things." I said after a momentary silence.We were back to square one because she didn't respond and resumed eating small portions from her plate."We're inviting your parents tomorrow at the breakfast. I don't want to live this cat and mice life anymore." I said."Don't drag my parents in your dirty games, Rafael. I will deal with them." She said in a flat tone and stood up."Finish your food, Anna. You can't ignore your health." I reminded her and our eyes met for
[ Rafael Martinez ]Arianna's outburst kept replaying in my mind like a record. Her eyes reflected her sedimentated anger and hatred for me and it broke my heart to see those emotions in her eyes. I made her hate me even more and probably ruined my every chances to be with her. She'll not stay quiet and tell her family about my identity and about my parents. "Come on, son. Are you going to say something or sit here like a stone statue. I know something has happened. This red mark on your face is telling a lot." My father said, his eyes were darted on my cheek.I touched the stinging area and looked away. "She's a poison in your life, Noah. Why are you with her? You're successful and young. You will find a thousand women at your disposal if you go for a bride hunt. Just leave her. You will get your child. I trust you." Mom again repeated the same dialog."Mom, please, I'm already frustrated and clueless. Yesterday, Charlotte Blackwood confronted me and it's not wrong either. She hel
[ Arianna Blackwood ] I sipped the ginger tea, enjoying the ghostly silence of the living room. The weather was still bad, the downpour changed into soft drizzle but the sky was grey and gloomy depicting my own mood. I heard footsteps. I recognized them so I sat unbothered and sipped the tea. "Good morning." I heard his grosggy voice. "Good morning," I wished him back curtly but didn't spare him a glance. "A cup of coffee please!" He yelled to his staff and sat across me. I stole a glance at him, he was in a t shirt and trousers. "I am sorry, the last night was unintentional. I never get this much drunk often unless I'm frustrated." He kept talking but I only listened. I remained quiet. "Look, if you're intentionally ignoring me then it won't work, Arianna. We can't go like this." He said in a little frustrated voice. Meanwhile, his coffee was served. "I am not in a mood to talk. I hope you understand." I said without looking up. "Alright, take your time to sort out your moo